A 42-year-old flight instructor, Leandro Andrés Bertazzo, died after exiting a Cessna C-150 mid-flight over the rural area of Toledo, Córdoba, Argentina. According to reports from the flight school and local media, the instructor jumped from approximately 250 meters while his 22-year-old student, identified as Rosario, successfully took control of the aircraft and landed it safely without injury. The Córdoba federal judiciary and the Transportation Safety Board are currently investigating the incident as a suspected suicide.
The Sequence of Events During Training
The incident occurred during a routine training flight in southern Córdoba. According to the student’s account provided to local media, Bertazzo instructed her to continue flying, stating, “You know what you have to do, keep going.” Immediately following this, he removed his headset, set aside his phone, unbuckled his safety harness, and forced open the cabin door to exit the aircraft at an altitude of 250 meters.
Rosario reported that she initially hoped the instructor might have been wearing a parachute, but she quickly shifted her focus to emergency protocols. She contacted air traffic control and executed a landing, bringing the Cessna to the ground intact. Flight school director Eduardo Álvarez and other colleagues launched a search mission, locating the instructor in a nearby field roughly 15 to 20 minutes later. Emergency responders confirmed he was deceased at the scene.
Light aircraft like the Cessna C-150 are designed for manual control, but cabin doors are notoriously difficult to open during flight due to the pressure differential between the interior and the external atmosphere, making the instructor’s exit an unusual and extreme action.
Aviation Mental Health and Regulatory Oversight
The aviation community has expressed shock, as colleagues described Bertazzo as an experienced pilot with a first-class commercial license and a history of professional conduct. He had previously served as a pilot in Chile. Despite his professional demeanor, family members confirmed that Bertazzo had sought psychiatric treatment one week prior to the incident.
Aviation regulations typically require pilots to undergo rigorous physical and mental health assessments every six months. According to records, Bertazzo had consistently passed these evaluations without any flagged concerns. The fact that his recent psychological distress remained known only to his family highlights the ongoing challenges in identifying mental health issues within high-stakes aviation environments.
Investigation into the Incident
The Córdoba federal judiciary is working in coordination with the Transportation Safety Board to determine the circumstances surrounding the pilot’s actions. While the evidence points to a deliberate act, investigators are reviewing his medical records and recent activity to understand the timeline of events. Colleagues noted that the instructor appeared normal on the day of the flight, though he had requested that his student drive him to the airfield instead of using his own vehicle, a departure from his usual routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Was the student injured during the incident? No, the 22-year-old student remained physically unharmed and successfully landed the aircraft.
- What was the instructor’s professional background? Leandro Andrés Bertazzo was a 42-year-old veteran instructor with a first-class commercial license and experience flying in Chile.
- Are there routine mental health checks for pilots? Yes, pilots are subject to mandatory health assessments every six months, though these checks did not identify the instructor’s recent distress.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. In Argentina, you can contact the 1925 helpline, the Life Line at 1995, or the “張老師專線” at 1980.
For more updates on aviation safety and industry news, subscribe to our newsletter or explore our archives on flight training protocols.
